George Turnbull (1809-1889): Autobiography: Chapter 1

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Chapter 01. 1909-1834. (pages 05-23) Early life. Working with Thomas Telford.

Memoir of George Turnbull - CIVIL ENGINEER,

1809

I WAS born at Luncarty, five miles north of Perth, on the 2nd September, 1809. In February, 1814, my father removed with his family to Huntingtower, Bleachfield, on the river Almond, a small tributary of the river Tay, and commenced business there.

My forefathers were Borderers, and my father took a kind of good-humoured pride in mentioning the fact. In his early youth he lived in the house of Mr. Byres, his maternal grandfather, the minister of Swinton, and afterwards with his parents at Luncarty, Perthshire.

The following memorandum is in my father’s handwriting :—

“ In looking over some old papers, I found the following documents of our ancestors;—
“ In 1655, William Turnbull was tenant to the Marquis of Douglas, but I find no document to indicate the name of the farm.
“ In 1697, 1 Hector Turnbull, son of the above, rented the Farm of ” Jygg’ Swinton Hill, from Mr. Swinton of Swinton.
“ In 1728, Hector Turnbull and his son, William Turnbull, took a lease of Blackadder Mains from Sir John Home (I have the Tack). Rent 1,200 merks, Scotch money, and carriage of 36 loads coals or S/- Scots each load ; 18 capons or 8/- ditto each capon, and 18 hens or 6/- ditto each hen. (£51 16s. 0d. Total.)

GENEALOGY.

1655,—William Turnbull was tenant to the Marquis of Douglas.

1697,—Hector Turnbull, his son, rented Swinton Hill, Berwickshire.

1728.—Hector Turnbull and his son William rented Blackadder Mains.

1736.—Jean Byres, widow of said William Turnbull, occupied said farm.

1753.—Hector, son of the above William, came to Luncarty, near Perth. 1814.—William Turnbull, son of the above, came to Huntingtower.

The last mentioned was my father. My mother’s name was Mary Sandeman. Hector Turnbull, married to Agnes Gias, 7th Dec., 1756.

She was a daughter of John Gias, the Founder of the Glassites.

Their children:—

John, born 12th October, 1757.

A son, born 6th Fehr., 1759, died an infant.

Jean, born 14th Febr., 1760, died loth April, 1765.

Agnes Gias died 28th Jan., 1761, of consumption, age 22.

Hector Turnbull, married to Mary Walker, 28th Oct., 1761.

Katharine, born 11 th June, 1763.

Jean, born i3th July, 1764—Mrs. Christie—died.

• William (my father) born 15th Jan., 1766 ; died 17th Aug. 1841. Archibald, born 28th June, 1767 ; died 1st Dec., 1770.

Agnes, loin 20th July, 1768—Mrs. John Sandeman George, born 13th Dec., 1769 ; died 25th Oct., 1772.

Mary, born 21st Febr., 1771,—Mrs. Rt. Sandeman.

Hector, born 5th June, 1772 ; died 21st April, 1777' George, born 17th Aug., 1773.

A son, born 1st March, 1775 ; died same day.

A son, born 31st July, 1776 j died same day.

Katharine, born 30th Aug., 1777—Mrs. Wm. Sandeman. She was the mother of General Robert Sandeman, and a large family besides,

Margaret, born 13th Oct., 1778—Mrs. Alexr. Miller.

Sandeman, born 31st Jan., 1780; died 26th April, 1837.

Clopper, born 17th Sept,, 1781—Mrs. Maiben.

Hector, born 13th Feb., 1783.

Archibald, born 14th Feb , 1785 ; died in India.

• William Turnbull, married to Mary Sandeman, on the

19th December, 1786.

Their children:—

Hector, born Sth April, 1788 ; died 13th Nov., 1788.

Mary, born 19th Dec., 1789 ; died 17th April, 1820.

Catharine, born 24th Sept., 1791, at Luncarty; died 21st May, 1871. She was Mrs. Hector Sandeman-Tulloch.

William, born 21st July, 1793 ; died 26th Jan., 1869.

Sibella, born 7th July 1795 ; died Sth Feb., 1796.

Hector, born 3rd June, 1797 ; died 25th Aug., iSoJ, of scarlet fever. Agnes, born i6th Sept., 1800; died 4th Sept., 1847.

Sibella, born. Sth June, 1803 ; died 13th April, 1864.

Jane, 6th Jan., 1806, at Luncarty, 1876.

Margaret, born 6th July, 1807 ; died 15th Jan., 1867.

George, born 2nd Sept., 1809, at Rosehill; died 26th Feb., 1889.

From the above it will be seen that I was the youngest of a family of eleven, and that eight of us were living when we removed to Huntingtower in 1814. I was not sent to school until I was ten years of age, but was taught reading and writing at home, mostly by my eldest sister Mary.

1819

On the 10th September, 1819, I was sent to the Grammar School at Perth, then under the direction of Mr. Dick, the head master; there were about one hundred boys in it then. Dick retired on a pension, and Mr. Moncur succeeded him, but died soon after, and was succeeded by Mr. Wm. Cameron, an eccentric man, but a good Latin scholar. The five years spent at this school were happy times with me. Huntingtower is three miles from Perth, and I rode to school every day on a pony, often having my father’s company, who had to go often to Perth on business. I carried off the first prize for Latin and Greek every year at the grammar school, which greatly pleased my dear old father and mother. The affection of my dear old mother was almost boundless, and when I reflect upon those old happy days, I feel a kind of melancholy regret that the greater part of my after life was spent at a distance from them, and that 1 saw my beloved parents only at intervals, and then only for a short time. Perhaps I did not value them as much as I ought to have done ; but regrets are now vain and unavailing ; and, in fact, I was so busy with my work for many years that leave of absence was next to impossible.

1824

On the 3rd November, 1824, I was sent to the Edinburgh University, and attended the college there, learning Latin and Greek with Professors Pillans and Dunbar ; also Mr. Nicholls’ class for mathematics.

The second year attended Professor Leslie’s Natural Philosophy class; also Pillan’s and W. Nicholl. Was boarded with Mr. Gallaway, in Elder Street.

I may mention that Mr. Tucker, then a director, and afterwards chairman of the East India Company, who was an old friend of my mother’s—Mrs. Tucker being her niece—wrote to my mother, offering a cadetship in the Company’s service for her youngest son. My father and mother were very much set against my going to India; and, although I was anxious to go and push my fortune in India, yet I gave it up, as I saw it would be so painful to them, and have never had any reason to regret the decision. And so the offer was declined, with many grateful thanks.

I began to keep the Bleachfield books at Huntingtower on the 30th March, 1827, and kept them for a year, and balanced them up to 30th March, 1828. This gave me a good insight into business accounts, and especially the art of book-keeping, which has been of great service to me all my life. I did not, however, like my employment, nor the prospect of settling down as a Bleacher, especially as I saw that there really was no room for me there, my brother William being fully competent to assist my father, and to take his place on any emergency ; and so it turned out, that when David Hogarth went to London to study engineering (1828), I wrote and asked him how he liked it, and whether he thought I would do for an engineer. He wrote back in a very cordial way in the affirmative, and begged me to come up to London as soon as possible and join him at the St. Katherine’s Docks. This was very soon carried into effect.

No doubt I had a natural bias in this direction, as I took great delight in going about the machinery of the works at Huntingtower, and learnt the use of tools by working in the millwright’s shop there, under the direction of old John Robertson, who was a very skilful workman, and had erected many water-wheels and other machines in various parts. And so when I went to the St. Katherine’s Docks the work was not altogether new to me.

1828

On the 28th June, 1828, I sailed from Dundee in the smack, “Courier” arrived at Hoare’s Wharf, London, on the Sth July; ten days on the voyage.

Entered the Engineers’ Office at St. Katherine’s Docks ; cordially received by my dear friend, David Hogarth; found quarters in the same lodgings with him at 57, King’s Square, Goswell Street Road.

The works at St. Katherine’s Docks were going on with great rapidity. Mr. Telford, the engineer-in-chief, Mr. Thomas Rhodes, the resident engineer, various young men, pupils, were in the office, Gifford, Jeans, David Hogarth, Oakes, and subsequently James Waylen, also Charles Atherton and Whitely.

The Docks were partially opened on the 25th October, 1828, but the West Dock was in a backward state, and also the warehouses. Philip Hardwick was architect for the warehouses and George Aitcheson was clerk of the works ; Mr. George Burge was contractor for the works in the engineers’ department.

On the 29th March, 1829, visited Westminster Abbey for the first time, with David Hogarth, and afterwards the gallery of the House of Commons, and heard a debate on the Catholic Emancipation Bill; heard Mr.—afterwards Sir—Robert Peel, Mr. Huskisson, Joseph Hume, Waithman, Hobhouse.

David and I had occasional long walks together. On 17th April, being Good Friday, we walked into the country, with David McCulloch, through Hornsey, Enfield, Lea Bridge, Waltham Abbey, Epping Forest, Loughton, Woodford, Stratford, and so home, dreadfully tired. This must have been a walk of upwards of thirty-five miles.

On the 26th May, 1829, David Hogarth left London for Edinburgh, and gave up engineering to study for the church. He had long contemplated doing so, but the resolve was made rather suddenly at the last. He was ordained, became a minister in the Church of England, and by-and-bye Vicar of the Isle of Portland, where he continued for thirty-three years, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him well. He was a good, kind-hearted, excellent man, and a true Christian. He died in 1872, in the 69th year of his age.

About this time my cousin. Hector Turnbull, came to London, and we shared the same lodgings. He was engaged as a clerk with Parke, Yeoward and Co., the Canadian timber merchants, but on account of weakness of eyesight he was obliged to return to Glasgow before the end of the year.

I left London on the 8th November, 1829, on a visit to my parents at Huntingtower; arrived on the 13th, after a rough passage.

On 12th December, received a letter from Mr. Rhodes, saying that Giffard’s retirement from Mr. Telford’s office, from severe illness, caused a vacancy there ; that Mr. Telford had been enquiring about me, and that if I would like to take the place, I had better come to London at once. I accordingly took farewell of my dear father and mother, William, Nancy, Sibella, Jane, and Margaret. It was a sorrowful parting, as we all seemed to think that my path in life would lie in a different line from theirs, and that we should not see much of each other for the future ; all which turned out to be too true.

1830

On the 1st January, 1830, David McCulloch left London for India; he settled in Bombay, and we never met again; he died there many years afterwards, I think about 1863 ; an excellent man.

I entered Mr. Telford’s office on the 15th March, 1830, as draughtsman and clerk, living in his house the salary he gave me was ^80 a year, with board, &c. This was a good start in life, and my parents and friends considered me very fortunate in being taken by the hand by so eminent a man. I remained with him in the same situation until his death, in September, 1834.

Mr. Telford was born in 1757; died 1834, at the age of He was 73 when I entered his office, a fine, hale, hearty old man.

In those days George Lindsay was living in Lawrence Pountney Lane, in the City—the Firm was, “John, George, and John Lindsay.” The fir si John being Captain John Lindsay, the third John being the nephew of the other two and godfather to my son George Lindsay Turnbull.

I was made an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers on the loth February, 1829, and am now the oldest member.

“James Waylen, from Devizes, came to the office, St. Katherine’s Docks, on the 2nd June, 1829, to be with Mr. Rhodes.”

1830

1830. Mr. Telford set me at work making the drawings for the copperplate engravings to accompany his memoirs, or autobiography, which he seems to have begun about this time. Thomas Casebourne also was much in the office; Ulster Canal plans in hand.

Telford avoided undertaking new works as much as possible, but had a good deal going on unfinished, and was much consulted about various public works. Works in progress were the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal, Ellesmere Canal; Dean Bridge, Edinburgh, designs made; Herne Bay pier was started. Telford travelled about a good deal, inspecting the Holyhead road, which was under his general supervision, often accompanied in his journeys by his friend, Mr. John Rickman, one of the clerk’s of the House of Commons, and Sir Henry Parnell.

He set me to take notes and write out the minutes of conversation at the Institution of Civil Engineers, a task which I did not much like, but could not refuse, as they had no secretary but poor old Mr. Gibbon, who was not very efficient; also to write reports for the “ Athenaeum,” my first attempt at composition for the press !

Mr. Telford had a large acquaintance, who called to see him now and then, some of them celebrated men. Southey, the poet laureate, came to see him in November, and was greatly pleased with the design of Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Mr. Alexander Milne, First Commissioner Woods and Forests.

1831

1831. —Sir Francis Burdett persuaded Telford to undertake a survey, and report as to the best way of supplying the metropolis with pure water.

Telford employed Thomas Casebourne, a surveyor of great experience, and sent me with him to assist, and learn what I could ; this was on the 30th April this year, and so we started for St. Albans on the ist of May, and I was delighted on being sent on some out- of-door work, as I was heartily tired of confinement to office work. Many trial surveys and levels were made, nearly all round London : St. Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Coin River, Ver, Gade, &c.; River Lea, Ware, Edgeware ; and on the South side, Carshalton, River Wandle, Croydon.

This year Telford was engaged about road surveys in Scotland ; the title on the map of one will show the kind of work he was so well versed in, viz. ;

“ Map of a new Line of Road,
“ by Gretna, Dunaby and Bailey Hill to
“ Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the county of
“ Dumfries.
“ Surveyed under the direction of Thomas Telford,
“ by Henry Welch, 1831.”

James Waylen was this year on a visit to Scotland, and stayed for a while at Huntingtower. On his return to London he joined Casebourne and me on the survey, and we had very pleasant times of it.

1832

1832. January, on Wandle survey. February, March, April, mostly on survey and sections of Watford Line.

Charles Atherton much in the office this year, making designs and working drawings, under Telford’s directions, of new bridge over the River Clyde, at Glasgow, called the Broomielaw Bridge. Of this bridge Atherton was, by-and-bye, the resident engineer, and John Gibb, of Aberdeen, the contractor. It is a very handsome, well-proportioned bridge, built of grey Aberdeen granite, much admired and approved of by the Glasgow people.

Left London, 29th June, by steamer for a trip to Scotland to see my parents and friends. Huntingtower, 2nd July.—Spent a very pleasant time there, and visited Woodend, Mr. Lindsay, Tulloch, H. Sandeman, Annot Bank, Mr. Maiben, Douglas field, Dundee, Mr. Sandeman, Claverhouse, Hector Turnbull. Left Perth 17th July, for Edinburgh, saw old Miss Lee, then to Glasgow, and with C. Atherton on the Paisley canal boats. From Glasgow to Carlisle, Manchester, rail to Liverpool, then coach from Birkenhead to Chester, Bangor ferry, Menai Bridge, coach to Shrewsbury, car to Market Drayton, walked along Birmingham and Liverpool canal works with Mr. Easton. Coach to Birmingham, by the “Tally Ho” coach from Birmingham to London, iro miles in twelve hours ; having been away just one month, and greatly enjoyed the trip.

August and September on the metropolitan water survey, also to the end of the year, and drawings for Telford’s work. Theguaging of the various rivers—Colne, Cade, Lea, New River, Wandle, wasa very interesting occupation, and great pains were taken about it. Mr. MacNeill, T. Casebourne and I, also James Mills occcasionally put in an appearance. Telford was a good while away from home this year, at Shrewsbury, Holyhead road, Birmingham and elsewhere.

October.—Telford engaged about plans of a suspension bridge proposed for the Rhone, near Geneva. The design was made, and Telford talked about sending me out to take sections and levels, but nothing came of it.

1833. —Still in Mr. Telford’s house, 24, Abingdon Street. January.—Engaged in the experiments with swift-going canal boats, Paddington Canal. Mr. Graham, of Glasgow, and MacNeill, had some vague ideas that swift canal boats for passengers might be instituted in many places throughout the country, so as to compete with railways. The success of those on the Paisley canal was the standing argument. February. Drawings for Telford’s book. Turrell, the engraver, got a large number this month.

Ulster canal working drawings in hand.

March.—Telford reports and designs about Seaham Harbour.

April.—Important experimental trip in long, light boat on the Paddington canal; fifty-two in the boat. Among them were— Captain Basil Hall, Mr. Babbage, Whitwell, MacNeill, Saxton, Gordon, Joseph Cubitt, Dundas, Bournes, Baker.

Mr. Telford was very unwell this month. May.—Rhodes, my old master, came from Limerick; John Provis from Holyhead; Jos. Mitchell from Inverness ; MacNeill from Daventry.

1833.—Draining designs for centering for the Glasgow Bridge with Mr. Rhodes.

June and July. Glasgow Bridge plans. Piers of wood for Sydney, Cape Breton.

July 9. David Hogarth called and said he was now Curate at Lowestoffe.

Aug. 3. Hector Turnbull left London for Quebec.

Mr. Telford again unwell.

Letter from Agnes telling of my father’s illness.

Left London by the mail coach at 8 p.m., arrived at Perth late on the 6th and Huntingtower on the 7th ; found my father a good deal better. Visited Stanley, Woodend, &c., and returned to London, arriving on the 6th, exactly forty-eight hours by steamer from Newhaven. Called on my aunt, Mrs. Boswell, 13, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh—now a very old lady. Very busy with Metropolitan water papers and plans.

1824

1834. —This was an eventful year for me, it was the year when Mr. Telford died, and I went olf to Cardiff. In January the work of taking levels from Carshalton continued, also N. side London, with Joseph Cubitt, exploring and taking levels. Watford Line and others.

On the 8th Feb., Alexr. Carr Boswell and his brother William called to take leave on going to India. William died of fever, but Col. Alexander is alive at the present time, 1875, at Bedford. (Alexander died 1888.)

On 17th February, the maps, plans, reports of Metropolis water survey by Thomas Telford were deposited at the Treasury.

Mr. Telford began his Report by stating that the water of the River Thames being strongly objected to by the Londoners, and also condemned by the Commission of Enquiry of 1828, he searched the district on each side of the valley of the Thames, and examined the streams which fall into that river in the vicinity of London. He found in the result an abundance of pure, transparent water, within the distance of sixteen miles on the north, amply sufficient for the supply of three times the present water companies on that side of the Thames; and within ten miles on the south side of the river at a sufficient elevation for both high and low service, without having recourse to filtration, or indeed to pumping, except for a small portion of the high service.

He then goes into statistical details of the present water supplies by the three companies on the N. W. part of London, the Grand Junction, West Middlesex and Chelsea, in all 6,810,000 gallons or 1,089,600 cubic feet per day, equal to 78,819 gallons or (nearly) 13 cubic feet per second.

I propose to give an abstract of this report in an appendix by-and-bye, and now merely mention that the outline of his proposition was to cut off the Thames supply and give the several companies the pure water instead, and charging them cost price. The south side of the Thames to be dealt with in the same way.

March —. Mr. Telford’s office. Drawings of various kinds. Lowestoffe Harbour and reports.

April 21. Grand procession of Trades Unions, said to be 30 or 40,000.

May 8. Sir Francis Burdett moved in the House of Commons that Telford’s Report on the supply of water to the Metropolis, should be referred to a Select Committee, which was done accordingly. On the 23rd the Committee were in full business, Hanbury Tracey, chairman.

Design of a monument to Sir John Malcolm. Telford’s idea was an enormous obelisk, built of Rubblestone with cut stone blocks at the corners, to be placed on the top of some hill near where Malcolm was born—Langholm hill. This monument was designed to be 200 feet high, and estimated to cost ;^3,ioo. It was handed to General Pasley, who was a great friend of Sir J. Malcolm and Telford, all came from the same neighbourhood, but I know not whether it was ever erected.

June 12. Hector Saudeman called, on his way to Paris, he told me of my cousin Hector Turnbull’s marriage to Miss Mitchell, at Quebec.

July 2. All the drawings for the copper-plate engravings were now in Mr. Turrell’s hands—thus completing a rather heavy work. Turrell was an eminent line engraver and a great favourite with Telford, a most ingenious, intelligent man, and of a most genial disposition.

July 8. Accompanied Mr. Macneill to Highgate and stood proxy sponsor (Godfather) to his child, Thomas Telford, christened that day.

July —. My father had been very poorly for some time; my mother was anxious about him and wished me to see him, her letters are very beautiful. Mr. Telford gave me leave to take a run to Scotland, and so I left London in the “Perth” steamer on the 20th July, at II a.m., arriving at Dundee at 12 noon on the 22nd, 49 hours. Found them all well at Huntingtower and my father much better.

where I joined Mr. Macneill, and assisted in the experiments with swift canal boats on the Forth and Clyde Canal, Macneill, Murray, Grahame, Johnstone, the object was to show that passengers could be conveyed in long, narrow, iron boats at eight miles an hour, and so compete with railways; the boats succeeded in going that pace, but it was futile to contend in this way with railways, and so these and other similar experiments came to nothing.

On the 26th July, received a letter from Mr. Cubitt, asking if I would accept a situation under him as chief, of resident engineer at the proposed Bute Ship Canal and Docks at Cardiff. I at once wrote, accepting the offer.

August —. Being in Glasgow, called on Uncle Sandeman Turnbull, Aunt Miller, Chas. Atherton and his bride, he was then carrying on Claud, Girdwood & Co.’s Engine Works. Then returned to Huntingtower and spent some happy days at home, saw Mr. Maiben, Mr. Stewart, David Turnbull, Aunt John Turnbull, Aunt George Turnbull, Henry Lindsay Woodend, and Hector and Catharine at Tulloch. All these are gone now.

On the 6th Aug. my father and mother and Nancy took me to Dundee in the chaise; my father was in good spirits, being pleased with the offer made to me of the situation at Cardiff Harbour, and thought it very good of Mr. Telford, saying that he would not stand in the way of my promotion, although it would put him to some inconvenience at first. We had a rather sorrowful parting, I well remember, as we all had an instinctive feeling that we were not to see very much of each other in this world.

Arrived in Abingdon Street again on the 8th and set to work immediately at Canal accounts, Ellesmere Port accounts, arranging maps and accounts with Mr. Telford, plans in catalogue for the book, catalogue of his maps, plans and papers which he intended leaving, and which he did leave to the Institution of Civil Engineers of which he was President; he seemed very anxious to complete all about his book, and the book of plates, and had Turrell often with him, maybe he had a presentiment that his end was approaching and wished all things to be in order.

On the 23rd Mr. Telford was taken seriously ill of a bilious derangement to which he had been liable, and called in Dr. White; he grew worse and worse and unfortunately, Mr. Rickman being out of town, I knew not who to advise with but went to Mr. Milne, of the Woods and Forests, and he told me to call in Dr. Paris and Anthony White, the celebrated surgeon. They attended to him most carefully twice a day, but it was of no avail for he died on the 2nd September, very peacefully at about 5 p.m.

September. His old servant, James Handscombe and I were the only two in the house when he died. He was never married. Mr. Milne and Mr. Rickman were, no doubt, Telford’s most intimate friends ; Mr. Rickman wrote from Ellesmere Port, telling me what to do, and I went to Mr. Milne and under his direction wrote the circulars and made all the arrangements about the house and the correspondence, a serious matter to me I well remember, but there was no difficulty about it, and I had kind friends in Mr. Cubitt, Mr. James Walker and Mr. Milne.

It was thought by many that Telford should have a resting-place in Westminster Abbey, and the following letter was written to the Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster:—

London, 06th September 1834

SIR,

“ We the undersigned, Vice Presidents of the Institution of Civil Engineers, being desirous that the remains of the late Thomas Telford, Esq., Civil Engineer and President of that body, should be interred in Westminster Abbey, have on application been informed that permission can be granted only by you. We beg therefore to request your leave to lay within the walls of that venerable edifice, the ashes of one, whose splendid abilities and unsullied character raised him to the very first eminence in the profession he adorned, and whose name is indissolubly connected with so many of the great public works that have been constructed in the United Kingdom within the last half century.

“We are. Sir, Your most obedient servants, JAMES WALKER, Great George Street, Westminster, “ W. CUBITT, Parliament Street,

“ HENRY R. PALMER, Fludyer Street.”

To this the following reply was received :—

ISLIP, OXFORD, September 7th, 1834.

“ I assent to the proposal for burying the remains of the late Mr. Telford in Westminster Abbey, on account of the eminence of his character. The gentlemen who have signed the letter, will show this note to the Prebendary in residence (of whom they will hear at the Porters’ Lodge in the Cloisters) and will then go to the office of Mr. Cell (in the little Cloisters) who will tell them what the fees are, and what is necessary to be done, previously to the interment. Mr. Carter, the clerk of the works, in Deans Yard, will search for a proper place where the remains may be laid. But neither in Poets Corner nor in the North Transept.

“(Signed) JOHN IRELAND.”

Not many persons were invited to the funeral, which might be called a private one almost. The following is a list of those who received invitations :—

Mr. Milne, Sir Henry Parnell, Captain Beaufort, Mr. Smith, J. Walker, > As Vice-Presidents I J. Field, H. R. Palmer, j Inst. Civ. Enginrs. j W. Cubitt, Elliott, Green, Solicitor, Robert Elliott, George Elliott, Provis, Easton, Simpson, Rhodes, Sibley, White, Mackneill, Farey, Thomas, Giles, Hardwick, Seaward, Gibbon, Turrell, Collenge, Sims, Anderson, Turnbull, Staunton, Davidson, Borthwick, Tucker, Hollins, Bourns.

Mr. Telford had no blood relations that we knew of.

The funeral took place on the loth of September, 1834.

The name of Telford is associated with all the great public works of the kingdom during half a century; after the death of John Rennie he was confessedly at the head of his profession as a Civil Engineer. During the few years preceding his death, he wrote what he entitled a “ Descriptive Narrative of the Works of Thomas Telford,” which is a very valuable record, but he says little about himself in it except at the commencement. His friend and executor, Mr. John Rickman, was editor of the volume, and added a supplement which gives some interesting particulars; a life of Telford was also written by Mr. Smiles, not altogether a satisfactory one.

Mr. Telford was of a most genial disposition and a delightful companion, his laugh was the heartiest I ever heard; it was a pleasure to be in his society. His character is well described by Mr. Rickman. He was born in the parish of Westerkirk, in the county of Dumfries in 1757, and died in 1834, rather more than 77 years of age at the time of his decease. Telford’s father was a shepherd in the pastoral district which divides the counties .of Dumfries and Roxburgh, and when an orphan he received the rudiments of education at the Westerkirk Parish School, in the summer season assisting his uncle as a shepherd boy. He was apprenticed to a mason about the age of twelve years, he used to say that he never was at school after he was of that age. His ability and perseverance may be understood from various literary compositions of after life, such as the articles he contributed to the Edinburgh En- cyclopsedla, such as Architecture, Bridge-building, and Canalmaking. Singular to say the earliest distinction he acquired in life was as a poet. Even at thirty years of age he reprinted at Shrewbury a poem called “Eskdale,” which Mr. Rickman placed in the Appendix of the Narrative. Some others of his poems are in my possession. One is. dedicated to Robert Burns, in which he suggests to him a continuance of such subjects as are the subject of the “Cotter’s Saturday Night.”

I shall say nothing about my own feeling on Mr. Telford’s death, as upwards of forty years have elapsed since then ; no doubt, they were very sorrowful when I lost my kind, old master, whom I loved and respected sincerely, but I cannot help inserting an extract of a letter from my father, dated Huntingtower, 8th September, 1834:—

“ Last night, after tea, as we were sitting around the fire, it occurred to us, what will George be about ? This will be a long day to him, and the most sorrowful and dismal day that he has passed since he went to London. We could easily fancy to ourselves how all Mr. Telford’s kindness would come to mind, and the many pleasant and cheerful hours that you have passed in his company, and then to recollect that all this has come to an end, and to think that the remains of him whom you were accustomed to look up to with so much respect and regard were silent and cold, and that you were to see him no more ; all that must have filled your mind with much sorrow. Yet as it appears that his time was come, and that (like all mortals) his days were numbered, it is still pleasing to think that you had the melancholy satisfaction of being with him at the last mournful scene of his long and active life, and that you will have it in your power to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of a master, and I may also say a friend, so deservedly lamented.”

The original of the following is in my possession—which Mr. Telford gave to me as he saw I loved Burns and old Scotland.

VERSES

On reading an account of the death of ROBERT BURNS, the SCOTCH POET.

CLAD in the sable weeds of woe,

The Scottish genius mourns, As o’er your tomb her sorrows flow.

The “ narrow house ” of Burns.

Each laurel round his humble urn. She strews with pious care.

And by soft airs to distance borne, These accents strikes the ear.

Farewell my lov’d, my favourite child, A mother’s pride, farewell 1

The muses on thy cradle smiled, Ah ! now they ring thy knell.

’Twas thine with sympathetic mind. To sing in deathless strains

The virtuous joys* which bless my kind. My uncorrupted swains.

’Twas thine to lash with satiref keen. Or draw forth pity’sj; tears ;

To spread the gay Arcadian§ scene. Or wield the village|| fears.

’Twas thine to laugh with simple* swains. Amidst their sports and plays,

Or win amidst Edina’s fanes,

The meed of lettered praise.

And yet, ’twas thine, though great thy name,! To fall neglected bye ;

And like thy elder sons of fame.

In poverty to die.

But what was want of wealth to thee

Whose firm, capacious mind.

In native independence free,

Its own applause designed.

High as Ben Lomond o’er our hills.

In towering grandeur stands.

And lakes and rivers sees like rills.

Descending through the lands.

So, raised by Heaven o’er vulgar men.

Far round thy glance was thrown.

With clear and comprehensive ken. Untutored and thine own.

Unfit to drudge in hampered rules. By low details confined;

But born to triumph o'er the schools.

And sway the human mind.

Unbless’d that day ! when all thy cares

From Nature’s works withheld.

Exchanged for man’s perplexed § affairs. The pleasures of the field. † ‡ § **

The muses shall that fatal hour

To Lethe’s streams consign ; Which gave the little slaves of power

To scoff at worth like thine.

But thy fair fame shall rise and spread, Thy name be blest by all;

When to their unremembered bed. These slaves of power shall fall.

And round thy tomb the plough shall pass. And yellow autumn smile ;

And village maids shall seek the place. To crown thy hallowed pile.

While yearly comes the opening spring.

While autumn wan returns : Each rural voice shall grateful sing.

And SCOTLAND boast of BURNS.

22nd August, 1796.

1834. September.—For a short time after Mr. Telford’s death, I was much with Mr. Cubitt, making arrangements about going to Cardiff; making out inventory of furniture in 24, Abingdon Street, with the house-agent employed by the executors, the plate, maps and plans and papers. The maps, drawings, and, I think, most of the books, were left to the Institution of Civil Engineers, of which Telford was President. Mr. Rhodes also had some of the books, and other papers, by his special desire; he had been with Telford for more than twenty-four years. Telford called him “ a master in carpentry.” Thomas Rhodes was originally brought up as a shipwright at Hull, and hearing of the Caledonian Canal works, travelled to Inverness, and was soon set at work there on the cofferdams at Corpach, and afterwards at the loch gates on the canal, the most of which he constructed. Afterwards he was called to the Menai Bridge works, by Telford ; and he it was who arranged all the tackle, and hoisted the chains and fixed them in their places—an arduous and difficult work, most successfully accomplished. Rhodes, whose pupil I was at St. Katherine's Docks, was a man of athletic mould, a genuine Yorkshireman, of a most retiring, unassuming character, thoroughly good-tempered; he was greatly esteemed by Telford, who consulted him in all mechanical projects. He was engaged for many years about the breakwater and harbour at Jersey, and died at a good old age, at Paignton, in Devonshire.

After Mr. Telford’s death, several kind friends offered me employment; Mr. James Walker sent. for me, and asked what I intended to do. Mr. Rickman, who was then engaged in arranging the census of population of Great Britain, offered me a situation in the office of that department, which I declined, with many thanks, telling him that I had made up my mind to become a civil engineer. Mr. Rhodes also, who was then commencing the great works on the River Shannon navigation, invited me to accompany him to Ireland ; but I had already accepted Mr, Cubitt’s offer of being his resident engineer at the proposed Bute Ship Canal, at Cardiff, in Glamorganshire.

So it was that on the 15th September, Joseph Cubitt, Mr. Cubitt’s son, and I, set out for Cardiff, by coach to Bristol; the time between London and Bristol was thirteen and a half hours.

Next day we went on by steamer to Cardiff, and commenced work soon after, going over the line of the proposed Feeder from the River Taaf, for supplying the ship canal with water. As the docks, or ship canal was to be on the flat ground between Cardiff and the sea, and an entrance channel cut from the loch through about three quarters of a mile of soft mud and clay, called the “ mudlands,” covered by the tide every day, the scheme was to keep this channel open by scouring, and so to provide a large basin to be filled by a Feeder from the River Taff, and which was to be discharged into the entrance channel at low water, to sweep away the accumulated mud.

The plan and section of the Feeder was soon finished by Joseph Cubitt and me ; and Mr. Cubitt coming down a few days after, the plans were all arranged for commencing work, Mr. Cubitt introduced me to the Marquis of Bute, who was very kind and polite, asking us all to dinner at the castle, where we met the Marchioness, Mr. Bruce and his family, the Bishop of Llandaff, and other leading people of the neighbourhood.

Joseph Cubitt stayed with me, and helped to draw plans and make estimates ; and on iith October the plans and specifications were sent to Mr. Cubitt, to London. Pending discussion about the plans, I made a complete survey and two plans of the ruins of Caerphilly Castle, with a description of their present condition, for the Marquis of Bute, with which he was greatly pleased.

11th December.—The plans and specifications were duly exhibited in the usual way, the Feeder works were let to Mr. Charles Dutton, and the work was begun on the i ith of December. Mr. Bird, of the post-office, cut the first sod.

1835

1835. Mr. Dutton carried on the works very well. They were small in amount, making a piled Weir across the River Taaf, sluices, and feeder, or watercourse, and various small bridges, including one rather ornamental, at the north entrance of Cardiff Castle.

February 12th.—Received a letter from my brother William, saying that he was to be married to Miss Henderson.

Edward Priest Richards, solicitor, was the marquis’ agent in Cardiff at that time ; John Lloyd was his clerk, in all that related to the management of the estate ; William Evans, chief law clerk.

In April Mr. Cubitt and Joseph came to Cardiff on their way from Dublin, and Joe remained with me for some time helping to draw out plans of lock and masonry of walls, gates and machinery. The plans were completed and he took them away to London on 5th May. He was then in a low state of mind and body, as he had been bitten by a savage watch dog, and he, and all the family, were for a long time in a nervous and frightened state for fear of hydrophobia, but it happily was a groundless fear, and Joe gradually got well again.

My brother William was married to Heriot Henderson on the 4th. June, this year.

Mr. Cubitt came down again on the 8th June, and we arranged plans of proceeding with the work, and advertised for tenders for making a cut from the Eastern Hollows. Thomas Evans offered to do the work under certain conditions for£9,750.

August. The Glamorganshire Canal was stopped and the water run off to allow us to put in the double culvert to carry the feeder; this was on the 6th August, on the 16th the work was completed and water let in again. Very quick work, a heavy fine for any time above ten days was to be paid by the Marquis to the Canal Company if the time was exceeded. The tunnel or culvert carrying the water was 115 feet long cross section like a double barrelled gun, each barrel 6 feet diameter. This was adopted on account of headroom.

September. Lord Bute took great interest in the works and paid many visit to ascertain progress. His eyesight was very bad, so that he could not see much of what was going on.

In his beautiful poem called “The Cotter’s Saturday Night.”

In the “Twa Dogs.” “ Death and Doctor Hornbook.” “Man was made to mourn.”

Many of his descriptions of rural scenery are very fine.

In his legendary tales of Tam O’Shanter, Hallow E’en, etc.

† with the exception of “ Christ Kirk on the Green,” there is nothing in the Scotch language which enters so completely into the local humours of the country as the poetry of BURNS.

+ When he went to Edinburgh, he was much caressed by the worthy and learned men of that city.

J Ben Lomond is the highest hill in the south of Scotland ; from the top the rivers Forth and Clyde, Loch Lomond, &c., &c.

• • He left off the farming life and went into the Excise, but never met with any preferment in that line ; and I have heard from good authority that he rendered himself obnoxious to men in power, by speaking with freedom of measures and - occurrences, during the late political ferments.

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